We supply and fit a wide range of fire rated glass, ranging from 30/0 to 120/120 in terms of integrity and insulation periods in varying sizes and formats. Our fire rated glass, sourced from FireGlassUK is Certifire accredited and full documentary test evidence is available, assuring you of performance and of an informed choice when selecting the product you need. We are experts within our field, supplying and fitting a wide range of fire rated (and other specialist) glass where necessary to ensure you comply with Building Regulation requirements, whilst also achieving aesthetically pleasing results for your project.
What is Fire Rated Glass?
[one_half]Fire Rated Glass (aka Fire Resistant Glass) is specialist product that has been proven to provide a period protection against fire. The degree of protection offered depends on the type of fire rated glass. However, generally speaking all fire rated glass acts as a barrier to help prevent the spread of flames and smoke in the event of a fire. Additionally, certain types of fire rated glass will provide a degree of protection against the heat of a fire. The use of fire rated glass is therefore of great importance in building safety.[/one_half][one_half]
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What are the benefits?
[one_half]The flexibility of fire rated glass and its ability to compartmentalise and restrict fire damage makes it a fundamental part of any building’s fire safety strategy. It is used for areas which are designed to provide a safe exit/ access route in the event of a fire and to help prevent the spread of fire throughout a building (reducing structural damage). Whilst fire rated glass may look much the same as any other type of glass, this is misleading. Any glass without an official Fire Protection Rating will off no protection against fire, instead it will break under heat and offer no heat insulation, furthermore it will not comply with the strict Building Regulations.[/one_half][one_half][/one_half]
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Testing:
[one_half]Fire Resistance Tests are carried out by independent test companies and comply with all relevant Fire Test Standards. All fire rated glass should be installed as per the test evidence in terms of the Fire Resistant Glazing System used during the test (including sizing, frame and installation materials); only then will it provide the protection as per its official Fire Protection Rating. If the glass is installed into a different frame, or the sealing method is changed, then this will affect the fire rating, effectively negating the fire rating in it’s entirety. [/one_half][one_half][/one_half]
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Fire Protection Ratings:
[one_half]Once tested the glass is given an official Fire Protection Rating. The degree of protection offered is given in time periods, ranging upwards of 30 minutes. This period of protection is known as the Integrity Period – the length of time the glass remained in its frame and successfully blocked flames and smoke when subjected to a simulated fire at a testing centre. The integrity period is usually classified by the letter E followed by the applicable period of protection. For example, a rating of E60 would mean that the glass in question had an integrity period of 60 minutes during which the glass will, if installed as per the test evidence, block flames and smoke.[/one_half][one_half][/one_half]
[/one_half][one_half]Some glass also acts as a barrier against hear and this can be determined where the insulation period is usually classified by the letters EI followed by the applicable period of protection for both integrity and insulation. For example, a rating of EI 60/30 would mean that the glass in question, when used as per the appropriate test evidence, provides a 60 minute integrity period and 30 minutes insulation whereby the temperature on the non-fire side of the glass will be restricted. Some glass may be rated by the letters EW, the W is reference to Radiated Heat which essentially means that unlike E rated glass alone it does provide a degree of heat resistance but no protection for a defined period (unlike EI rated glass). For example, glass rated E60 provides a 60 minute period of integrity with no heat resistance at all. Glass rated EW 60 still has a 60 minute period of integrity and does have some heat resistance but not sufficient for any given period and it does not restrict the temperature of the glass on its non-fire side in the same way that EI rated glass will.[/one_half][one_half][/one_half]
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Typical Fire Rated Glass Usage:
[one_half]Fire rated glass has many uses, comes in many different forms and is highly flexible. It comes as Polished, Wired or Laminated/Toughened. Certain fire rated glass can therefore be used where both Impact Safety Rating and fire resistance are needed. It also comes as Single Glazed or as part of an Insulated Glass Unit. It can be used as a Vision Panel or Privacy Panel, side panel or even as a Glazed Partitions. Fire rated glass can also come with acoustic ratings that can be vital for certain building projects.[/one_half][one_half][/one_half]
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Typical Products Available:
